Single clip disposable applicator



Sept. 29, 1964 A. M. BROWN 3,150,379

SINGLE CLIP DISPOSABLE APPLICATOR Filed March 1, 1962 /0 FIG. 1

W m. x

IN VEN TOR.

Adolph M. Brown United States Patent 3,15%,379 SINGLE CL DlSYG-SABLEAPPLXCATOR Adolph M. Brown, 9735 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, Calii,assignor of twenty percent to Ernest E. Wood and twenty percent to ReneG. Le Vaux Filed Mar. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 176,632 7 Claims. (Cl. 1-349)This invention relates to a device for use in the application of clipsto efiect joinder of adjacent edges of tissue, such as skin, and thelike, and it relates more particularly to a skin clip applicator whichis of such construction and low cost as to enable sterilization and usefor a single application.

In my copending applications Serial No. 10,595, filed February 24-,1960, and entitled Means and Method for Suturing Wounds and Elements forUse in Same, now Patent No. 3,098,232, issued July 23, 1963, and SerialNo. 130,630, filed August 10, 1961, and entitled Surgical Clip,disclosure is made of a clip and applicator in which a cartridgecontaining a multiplicity of clips may be loaded for repeatedapplication in effecting skin closure or in an anastomosis for joiningfree ends of connective tissue or vessels. While a device of the typedescribed finds excellent use in surgery and the like, the applicator isa rather complicated and expensive structure and maintenance of sterileconditions until the cartridge of clips has been used is sometimesdifficult to achieve.

Thus, there is a need for a single clip applicator which is of such lowcost and simple construction as to enable the applicator to be thrownaway once the clip therein has been used, thereby to comprise a singleuse throv away applicator which can be initially sterilized.

It is an object of this invention to produce a clip applicator of thetype described and it is a related object to produce a clip applicatorwhich is simple in construction, which is easy in operation, which canretain a single clip in position of use, which can be sterilized whenassembled as a package, with or without the clip therein, which is oflow cost and therefore capable of economical and efiicient use as athrow-away applicator, which re-' tains the clip in position of use tobe readily accessible to the elements to be joined, which is fullyaccessible for observation properly to position the clip forapplication, and which is effective to achieve clip application andclosure in a simple and efiicient manner.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention willhereinafter appear and, for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective View, taken from the bottom side, ofthe clip applicator with a clip in mounted position therein;

FlGURE 2 is a perspective View of one form of clip which may be usedwith the applicator of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 2 in closedposition;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view from the topside of the clip applicatorshown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of clip which may beused in the applicators of FIGS. 1 and 4.

Referring first to the skin clip with which the applicator is intendedto be used, reference can be made to the aforementioned copendingapplications for a more detailed description thereof. Briefly described,such skin or surgical clip comprises a clip of elongate, laterallyspaced apart arms 10 and 12 interconnected at one end ice by adeformable cross arm or bail 14. The free ends of the arms are formedwith spurs or prongs 16 extending laterally inwardly and downwardly fromthe end portions of the arms to a point or spicule intended to enterinto the underlying tissue or skin when they are displaced in thedirection towards each other while the spurs or spicules are in surfacecontact with the underlying skin or tissue. Thus the spurs or spiculesengage into spaced apart portions of the skin or tissue to bring themtogether as the arms of the clip are continued to be displaced in thedirection towards each other.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 16, the spurs or spiculesextend inwardly and downwardly from the end portion of the spaced arms,the outer end portions of which are oifset inwardly from the lateralouter edges to provide shoulders. In the modification shown in FIG. 7,the spurs or spicules 16 extend inwardly and downwardly from a portionof the arms 10 and 12 spaced a short distance inwardly from the ends toprovide stop shoulders 18 and 2% on each side of the prongs which limitthe amount of entrance into the engaged skin or tissue.

The cross arm portion 14 is preferably located in the same plane as thearms 10 and 12. In the alternative, they can be formed with a slightupward curvature with the highest point at about the center tofacilitate deformation or the clip from both open to closed position.Similarly the bail or cross arm 14 can be formed with lesser thicknessat the center 22 so as to concentrate the bend in the central portion ofthe bail when the arms are displaced in the direction towards each otherfrom open to closed position. The spicules or prongs can be of variousdimensions depending upon the use to be made of the clip. As defined inthe aforementioned copending applications, they may be dimensioned tohave a length preferably greater than 0.005 inch up to 0.1 inch and preferably about 0.25 inch.

The applicator, identified by the numeral 30, comprises a frame memberformed of a structurally strong but deformable material having a pair oflaterally spaced apart arms 32 and 34 and a bail or interconnectingcross arm 36 joining the laterally spaced apart arms at one end. At theopposite ends, the arms comprise clamping end portions wherein the endportions are spaced one from the other by an amount which is less thanthe width of the clip member adapted to be mounted therebetween. In theclamping end portions, the arms are formed with grooves 38 which extendinwardly from the forward edge for a distance which is slightly lessthan the length of the clip member and which extends laterally into theinner walls of the clamping end portions of the arms by an amountwhereby the spaced relationship between the outer walls of the groove isslightly greater than the width of the clip. Thus the clip can bedisplaced endwise to be received in fitting relationship within thegrooved end portion of the applicator with the down-turned prongs 1dprojectingfrom the end portion of the applicator. When the applicator isadapted to be used with clips having the spurs or spicules spaced ashort distance from the ends of the arms, as in FIG. 7, the length ofthe grooved portion will preferably correspond -to the length of theclip beyond the spurs or spicules.

In the preferred practice of this invention, instead of providinggrooves 38, the end portions of the arms are dimensioned to be of lesserthickness than the remainder by an amount corresponding to the locationof the groove with the grooved portion retained only at the base toextend crosswise of the clip arms at a level flush with the bottom wallsof the end portions of lesser thickness so that the bail 14 of the clipcan be received therein for support in position of use with theremainder of the clip arms being unobstructed from the underside. Ineffect,

i by an" amount slightly: greater than the width of the end-"POI'fiOIIE'Of thBGIiP adapted to lietherebetween when the 1 "bail'ofrtheclip is receivediin the groove and which are fspacediorw'ardlyfrom .the base of the; groove by an 7 amount slightly less thantheplen'gth -of' theclipso that ""the abutr'he'ntsiwill be in positionto engage the lateral L fedges bfZthe"clip'to eflect deformation fromopen to I closed position responsive to displacement of the clip 'a'rrnsinthe direction towards each other. 'In this construc -"'tion,'i theclip member is retained in position of use: by "the" portion 'which:.isreceived with in the remaining *groove,-'while the major portion of. theclip is free of the "fapplicator to enable relative movement in adownward "directionas well'as endwise-movement to withdraw the "bailfrom the groove of theeapplic'ator when the clip has been deformed toclosed position. Under these circum- 1 1 stances;- the .abutments 40operate 'to stabilize the lateral .'-'position -of* the clip sothatthe=groove38 defined be- "tweenthe top wall '42'and the overhang 44'can extend "continuouslycrosswise of the applicator. 'When use is'rn'adeof clip'sihavingthe previously-described offsetsin the forward.end 'portions, the abutnrents can, be positio'nedtonepend' adjacentrthelateral edges of the o'ifset armz portionybut" in the path of theshoulders to hold the "clip against inadvertent forward displacementfrom its-position "of useiin' the holder. v

2 The-arms 32 and 34 -can:be"provided with facing abut- "-ments46iand 48"adjacent" the free end portions. with the spacingbetween the'abutmentscalculated to correspond *totheiamounf of deformation required to takeplacebetween the applicator arms to bring the spicules of "the insertedclip'into closed position. L Thus the 'abutments ="serveas stops toprevent excessive closure of' the inserted "clip me'mbers.

:- Further; theapp'licator 'can'be formed with theclampingendportionstapered downwardlyfr'omia point spaced "fiomithe''endsto'reduceithe. amount of material in the clamping'end :portion 'ofthe. applicator. and thereby toincreasethevisibility-for'propertapplication of the clip.

The'applicator can be molded 'in onepiece of. a suita'ble plastici-material, such'as polyacrylate, polystyrene, -cellulose=:acetate,cellulose: 'acetate-butyrate, polyvinyl chloride;polyvinylacetateand thelike. Instead itican *"befrabricat'ed' 'ofim'e'tal" or the likedeformable material.

2*It is preferred to fabricate the applicator of plastic maiterial;since such "materials .are readily available. at low "cost? andinexpensively molded to the desired construc- '-"'tion'to:2provide.a'throw away'unit. It' can be easily sterilized orfmaintaineclinra sterilestate when the-clip iisrnaintained in position of use thereinpIn'practice, the Ficlip isin'serted with' the base of .theclip' receivedwithin the slotted'po'rtionfor support and with the down-turned spursextending down'walrdlyifrom' between the clamping I end portions of 'theapplicator,- as illustrated 'in-the drawtings. j Theassenibly can besterilized in advance and then packaged in *a setrilized state for use.

-11; use', the'applicator isiheld between the thumb and*forefingerrlin'p'osition to press the spurs. onto the surfaces to'be'clam'ped. *In response to finger pressure'applied to 'W'thespac'edarms," the arms -of the applicator will be de- *formed -for displacementin "the' direction toward each i other with thebase functioning asthepivot. This causes the. endportion' of theclip arms similarly tobedisplac ed in thei direction toward'each'other whereby-the spiculepenetr'ates i ntlo the underlying tissueifor' attachment to '4 a bringthe spaced portions of the tissue together .as the applicatorandcliparms are further deformed totclosed position. Thus, the clip is deformedfrom open to closed position with the spaced portions of the tissueengaged 5 therebetwen. When in closed position, the applicator arms canbe released forreturn to original position, if

formed of resilient-material, or otherwise to remain in 7 closedpositionand the'applicator can be rearwardly displacedto freethe clipfronr'the'positioning' slot of the 10 applicator t lereby to leave theclip in closed orclamping position of use. T p

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have pro- "vided a clipapplicator-which is'capable-of singleuse for mounting a skin'or'surgical' clip and for-the application of same to effect joinder oftissue. It will be understood that the applicatorsdescribed-can be;discarded after: a single use but'that it also may be r'eloaded,'ifdesired, with single clips to effectmultiple usage.

It Willbe understood that changes may be-made zin the details ofconstruction,'arrangementand operation without'departing from; thespirit of'the invention, especially as defined in the following. claims.

I claim: V 1 1. For use with clips formed of a flat: strip having{spaced arms interconnectedatv one endportion. and-by a deformable bailand having spurs extending inwardly. in

the direction towards each other from the: opposite unconnected free endportions of the arms, a clip. holder and applicator comprisihga pairoflaterally spaced'apart arms-interconnected at one end and formed of amaterial which enablesdeforrnatiou for-displacement of-the-Opposite endsof. said armsin the direction towards and away from each other betweenopen and closed positions respectively, responsive to the application oflateral'pressure, said anns being recessed in the underside from the a 1forward end-portion rearwardly fora distance whic'h is less than thelength of the clip, a groove extending as a continuation from-therearward end portion 'of-the recess and substantially flush Withitheunderside of the recessed 40 --portions of said arms and dimensionedtovhave a depth at' aleast corresponding touthe: diiference between. the

crosswise dimension of the clip'and with the abutmeuts spaced=1forwardly'fromthe base of the;:grooveby an amount slightly less than the lengthof the clip vto-position the ahutm'ents adjacent the lateral edges :ofthe forward end positionof the clip when in position of use.

- 2. :Aclip holder--and;applicatoras claimed inclaim 1,

in which the holder and applicator isa plastic. material *ofu'nitaryconstruction.

3.3A"'c lip holder an d applicator asclaimed in claim 1, 0 whichincludes stops'between thearrns spaced one from the other by an amountfor engagement zone E'With'the other when the arms are displaced toclosed-position.

4. For use with'clips'formed of a flat strip having spacedarnisinterconnected atone end portion 'by a bail. 5 'which is formed with aweakness in its. midportion for deformation thereof responsive tothe;application"of lateral pressure on the forward portions of thespaced "arms and havingspurs extending inwardly in the. directiontowards each other from the2oppositelunconnected'endpor- 7 tion, a clipholder and applicator comprising a pair of 5- laterally spaced apartarms; having crosswise dimension greater than the' crosswise dimensionof the" clip, de-

' *formable means interconnecting the arms at'rtheir:rear.-

ward end'portiom-forwardly facing, crosswise extending "7 5; groovesinian intermediate "portion of said. arms dimen sioned slidably toreceive the bail portion of a clip mem ber therein with the unconnectedspur end portions of the clip arms adjacent the forward end portions ofthe holder arms, and abntments on the forward end portions of the holderarms spaced one from the other laterally by an amount greater than thespaced relation between the lateral edges of the clip and spacedforwardly from the base of the groove by an amount less than the lengthof the clip whereby the abutments are positioned alongside the lateraledges of the adjacent unconnected spur ends of the clip when the clip isin position of use in the holder with the hail of the clip receivedWithin said grooves.

5. A clip holder and applicator as claimed in claim 4, in which the endportion of the arms of the holder forwardly of the groove are formedwith a bottom wall offset upwardly to align the bottom Wall flush withthe groove whereby no obstructions other than the groove forming portionunderline the clip when in position of use.

6. A clip holder and applicator as clahned in claim 4, in which the armsare formed with inwardly extending abutments in at least one of the armshaving a spaced relationship therebetween corresponding to the amount ofdisplacement calculated to take place when the arms are displaced toclosed position.

7. A clip holder and applicator as claimed in claim 4, in which theholder and applicator are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. FOR USE WITH CLIPS FORMED OF A FLAT STRIP HAVING SPACED ARMSINTERCONNECTED AT ONE END PORTION AND BY A DEFORMABLE BAIL AND HAVINGSPURS EXTENDING INWARDLY IN THE DIRECTION TOWARDS EACH OTHER FROM THEOPPOSITE UNCONNECTED FREE END PORTIONS OF THE ARMS, A CLIP HOLDER ANDAPPLICATOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED APART ARMSINTERCONNECTED AT ONE END AND FORMED OF A MATERIAL WHICH ENABLESDEFORMATION FOR DISPLACEMENT OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ARMS IN THEDIRECTION TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSEDPOSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, RESPONSIVE TO THE APPLICATION OF LATERALPRESSURE, SAID ARMS BEING RECESSED IN THE UNDERSIDE FROM THE FORWARD ENDPORTION REARWARDLY FOR A DISTANCE WHICH IS LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THECLIP, A GROOVE EXTENDING AS A CONTINUATION FROM THE REARWARD END PORTIONOF THE RECESS AND SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RECESSEDPORTIONS OF SAID ARMS AND DIMENSIONED TO HAVE A DEPTH AT LEASTCORRESPONDING TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LENGTH OF THE RECESSEDPORTION AND THE LENGTH OF THE CLIP AND A WIDTH GREATER THAN THETHICKNESS OF THE CLIP TO RECEIVE THE BAIL PORTION OF THE CLIP IN SLIDINGRELATIONSHIP THEREIN FOR SUPPORT OF THE CLIP ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THEARMS, AND ABUTMENTS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE UNCONNECTED FREE ENDPORTIONS OF THE ARMS INTO THE RECESSED PORTIONS OF THE ARMS WITH THEABUTMENT IN ONE ARM SEPARATED LATERALLY FROM THE ABUTMENT IN THE OTHERBY AN AMOUNT SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE CORRESPONDING CROSSWISE DIMENSIONOF THE CLIP AND WITH THE ABUTMENTS SPACED FORWARDLY FROM THE BASE OF THEGROOVE BY AN AMOUNT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE CLIP TOPOSITION THE ABUTMENTS ADJACENT THE LATERAL EDGES OF THE FORWARD ENDPOSITION OF THE CLIP WHEN IN POSITION OF USE.